In life, pain is not a possibility. it’s a certainty. From minor inconveniences to deep, soul-wrenching heartache, all of us walk through suffering. But for the believer, suffering is never purposeless. In 2 Corinthians 1:1–7, the Apostle Paul reminds us that even in our most difficult seasons, God offers resources, reasons, and reassurance. His Word doesn’t just inform us; it comforts us.
This message from Pastor Eli invites us to explore foundational truths for the troubled heart.
Suffering Is Real—and It’s Common
Paul opens his letter with personal transparency. He refers to his afflictions using words like “tribulation,” “trouble,” “suffering,” and “affliction”, terms that represent both outward persecution and inward anguish. This isn’t just abstract theology. Paul had lived it. He faced public beatings, betrayal, criticism, and more. He knew what it meant to be “pressed out of measure.”
But Paul also knew that suffering wasn’t exclusive to apostles. Every believer, regardless of maturity or devotion, will experience tribulation. Trials are part of our Christian walk not in spite of our faith but often because of it.
Truth #1: We Have a Divine Resource in Our Suffering
Paul doesn’t stop at comfort. He moves to purpose. In verse 4, he explains why we are comforted:
“That we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
Our pain is never wasted. When God comforts us, it’s not merely for us. It’s so we can comfort others. Your wounds can become instruments of healing in someone else’s life. The struggles you survive may become stories that sustain someone else.
But what about the bigger question Why? Why suffering at all?
Paul will go on to detail several purposes in future verses (explored in Parts 2 and 3 of this sermon series), but here’s the key takeaway: Scripture provides real, but not exhaustive, answers. We may not get a full explanation in this life, but God gives us enough truth to trust Him.
Sometimes, suffering is used for our sanctification. Sometimes it’s for the encouragement of others. Sometimes it expels self-reliance and reminds us to depend entirely on the Lord. And sometimes, we won’t know the exact reason until we see Jesus face-to-face.
Common Misunderstandings About Suffering
To better understand why suffering happens, we must correct a few misconceptions:
1. Suffering isn’t always the result of sin.
Yes, God disciplines His children. But not all hardship is punishment. The story of Job, and even Paul’s life, prove that faithful people can suffer deeply. Trials are not always God’s correction they may be His calling.
2. Suffering won’t disappear with spiritual maturity.
There’s no level of Christian growth that exempts you from hardship. Jesus was perfect and He suffered. Paul was mature and he despaired even of life. The presence of suffering is not the absence of spiritual progress.
3. God’s reasons are not always fully revealed.
The Bible is accurate, sufficient, and trustworthy but it is not exhaustive. God tells us what we need to know, not everything we want to know. Our trust in Him must rest not on full explanations but on His proven character.
Final Thoughts: Trusting the Father of Mercies
When storms hit, we instinctively run somewhere. Some run to distractions, others to despair. But Paul points us to run to God the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He is our refuge. He sees. He cares. He comforts. And He often uses our pain not only to transform us, but to help those around us.
Suffering is certain but so is God’s comfort.
